Terps Capture Maryland Invitational Title

The Maryland volleyball team wrapped up the Maryland Invitational on Saturday with 3-0 wins against George Mason and Villanova. The Terps also won their match Friday night against New Hampshire 3-0.

Mary Cushman was awarded MVP of the tournament and was accompanied by Adreene Elliott and Ashleigh Crutcher on the All-Tournament Team.

“It’s pretty exciting, but it’s an honor that I take for the whole team because I wouldn’t be able to do what I did without the five other girls or even the girls that were on the bench,” Cushman said of the award.

The three All-Tournament selections were vital parts of the team effort this weekend. Against the Patriots, Crutcher led the match in kills contributing 12 to the team. Elliott added 10 and Cushman had 9, all of which helped the dominating offensive effort from the Terps.

Just two solo blocks occurred in the match and both came from Maryland thanks to Elliott and Kelsey Hrebenach. Maryland also led George Mason in assisted blocks, 18-14 and team blocks 11-7.

Maryland started off the first set strong against the Patriots with an 8-2 lead and forced an early Mason timeout. Mason cut the lead down, but the Terps would win the set 25-23. Maryland went on a run in the middle of the second set and won that set 25-18. Maryland grew more dominant with each set and ended the third with a score of 25-12.

The final match of the tournament was against Villanova. Both the Terps and the Wildcats went into the match with identical records of the tournament, 2-0.

Crutcher and Cushman came out strong in the first set, recording four out of the first five kills. Maryland eventually pulled out a tight set, 25-20.

Maryland proved to have much more control over the second set as they pulled out at 25-15 win. Crutcher gave the Terps the lead mid way through the set, a lead they would not relinquish.

The third set went far differently and the Terps fell behind the Wildcats for the majority of the set. After scoring the first point, the Terps would not take the lead back until it reached a score of 23-22. Dominant efforts from Crutcher and Cushman helped the Terps come back from the deficit. Cushman closed out the match with the final two kills of the set.

“We’re getting better. It’s a fun team to coach,” head coach Tim Horsmon said. “We still have some holes and some things that we’re not great at, but we’re getting better at those things and the kids are playing hard with great attitudes. We’re getting more confident in who we’re becoming so that’s great to see.”

The Terps are back in action next weekend at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich.